30+ French Desserts That'll Make You Feel Super Fancy

These decadent desserts will turn your kitchen into an elegant French pâtisserie. Whether you're a Francophile looking for something traditional (you'll make these Easy Macarons again and again) or are in the mood for something classic with a twist (this No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake is incredibly simple), we've got you covered with this collection of French dessert recipes.

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Sweet Corn Madeleines

How to improve on cornbread? Make it snack-size, crisp at the edges and tender inside, with a delicate crunch from corn. Then watch it disappear at brunch or alongside ribs. You'll need a madeleine or mini-muffin pan.

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Hazelnut Financiers

Hazelnut Financiers
RecipeHazelnut meal and almond flour give these little cakes a lovely nutty flavor and chewy-crunchy texture. Blanched almond flour (made from skinless almonds) is lighter in color than regular almond meal, but the two products can be used interchangeably.

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Easy Macarons

This simplified method for making classic French Macarons is the perfect recipe for a first-timer to practice with. Just be sure to wait for a day that isn’t rainy or humid to embark on this baking adventure, as the delicate cookies need dry air in order to set.

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Cold Lemon Soufflés with Wine Sauce

Cold Lemon Soufflés with Wine Sauce
RecipeSoufflés have always been an expression of elegant entertaining, but this one is chilled and held in place with a bit of gelatin, which means the hostess doesn’t have to rush the quivering creation to the table before it collapses.

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Doughnut Hole Croquembouche

PHOTO BY KELSEY HANSEN

Doughnut Hole Croquembouche RecipeThe classic dessert is a cone-shaped pile of cream puffs bound together with threads of caramel. Doesn’t that sound like the perfect show-stopper for your brunch table? In theory, a croquembouche absolutely magical, but in execution, you may be in over your head. Luckily, we’ve got you covered.

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Caramel Tart with Brandy Whipped Cream

Victor Protasio

Caramel Tart with Brandy Whipped Cream
RecipeIt is easy to over-indulge in this rich dessert, so we suggest serving it as tiny tarts or very slender wedges. That doesn't mean you can leave out the Brandy Whipped Cream though. Bring out this tart when you want to impress your guests with something other than a pie.

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Rhubarb Custard Pie

Rhubarb Custard Pie
RecipeOur Rhubarb Custard Pie is the perfect union of creamy, decadent custard and soft, tangy rhubarb. The simplicity of this pie brings out the best in rhubarb’s flavor: There’s just enough sugar to counteract the tartness, but not so much that it ruins the integrity of the pie.

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Basic Crepes

Basic Crepes
RecipeA quick and easy meal, crepes make the ultimate addition to the breakfast, brunch, or even dessert table! Although you'll only need about three tablespoons of batter to make each crepe, we found a 1/4-cup dry measuring cup is the best tool to scoop and pour the batter into the pan so the crepes cook evenly.

Strawberry-Lemon Crêpe Cake

If you’ve ever enjoyed a glass of strawberry lemonade, you know this is a refreshing combination. And this company-worthy crepe cake will make everyone swoon with its ethereal layers and rich lemon filling. Be sure to save the liquid after macerating the strawberries–it’s delicious drizzled over each serving.

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Coconut Meringues with Elderflower Strawberries

This heavenly dessert tops airy meringues with pillows of mascarpone cream and fresh, juicy strawberries in an elderflower-mint syrup. The meringues can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

You can’t have enough blackberry dessert recipes, and this one makes brilliant use of the summer’s juicy gems. Feuilletage is flaky puff pastry, and here it is partnered with melted butter, pecans, and sugar, reminiscent of some of our favorite pecan treats. Use frozen blackberries if you want to make this recipe in the cooler months.

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Elderflower Macarons

Elderflower Macarons
RecipeHere, a crunchy cookie shell with a chewy interior sandwiches delicate, creamy, floral frosting. If it will help, you can print out a piping template online and place it under the parchment paper to pipe consistent size circles. You can, if you like, garnish the tops of the macaroons with fresh elderflowers.

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Chocolate Bûche de Noël

Photo: Alexandra Grablewski; Styling: Lynn Miller

Chocolate Bûche de Noël RecipeBûche de Noël is a traditional French Christmas cake shaped and decorated to look like a tree log. It's filled and frosted with silky chocolate buttercream. Crunchy meringue mushrooms are the perfect contrast. Chopped pistachios scattered around resemble moss growing on the (chocolate) log.

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French Apple Cake

French Apple Cake
RecipeThis French Apple Cake is super easy, can be made very quickly, and transforms into a fancy cake perfect for a dinner party or special occasion. Plus, all the ingredients are easy to find. The rum and the warm apples wrapped in fluffy cake gives you the perfect bite.

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Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines

Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines
RecipeNew Orleans’ favorite candy is a true marriage of old-world European tradition combined with Southern ingenuity. When the French settled New Orleans in the 1700s, they brought their version of pralines, a simple sweet made by cooking whole almonds with granulated sugar until they became crisp and caramelized.

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Pistachio Pralines

Briana Riddock

Pistachio Pralines
RecipeThese pralines would be perfect given as a token of appreciation to your dinner party host or served as a sophisticated treat at bridal or baby showers, holiday parties, or any other celebratory function.

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Rosemary-Citrus Parfaits

Rosemary-Citrus Parfaits
RecipeYou'll make more rosemary syrup than you need, but it's great to have extra on hand. It keeps well in the refrigerator, where it will last for 2 to 3 weeks. Molly suggests stirring some into club soda to make a rosemary soda, and mix with vodka or gin for a cocktail.

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Beignet Ice Cream Sandwiches

Beignet Ice Cream Sandwiches
RecipeCoffee and beignets belong together, so coffee ice cream and beignets...? Yeah, that's a no-brainer. This easy, but impressive, New Orleans-inspired dessert recipe is the perfect treat for your Mardi Gras celebrations. With only five ingredients, you'll be surprised by how easy these ice cream sandwiches are to whip up.

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Gingersnap-Meyer Lemon Meringue Tart

With a gingersnap crust and lemon curd filling, every bit of this tart is bursting with flavor! If Meyer lemons are unavailable, substitute equal amounts of regular lemon juice and orange juice. Garnish with Meyer lemon slices.

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Vegan Dark Chocolate Coconut Tart

Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Styling: Rishon Hanners

Vegan Dark Chocolate Coconut Tart
RecipeAfter you take one bite of this deeply decadent “clean eating” dessert, you might not believe that it’s raw, vegan, gluten-free and paleo… but low and behold, you don’t need excessive sugar or other processed ingredients to make something magical.